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To cut it short, 14-24mm lens is tricky lens and asks a long upper rail to set NPP for zoom @14 mm etc. What camera are you using? To set the combination to entrance pupil of the lens = NPP , it does not matter the mode you are using. Portrait mode or landscape mode.

I am afraid NN4 does not do your job because the upper rail is shorter than the one of NN5 / M1-L. Zoom 14 at D3 asks a URS = upper rail setting of 122mm. This is not available on NN4.

Two choices: go for M1-L, or for discontinued irregular NN5 that will do your job. I have tested it on M1-L and NN5 with different Nikon Bodies. In case your local reseller does not sell NN5 irregular, ask me and I will try to arrange to find a reseller for you. Be sure you have to pay in advance.

HI Heinz,
Thank you for the reply. So i will get the M1-L
1. Since i have manfrotto ball head 498cr4 do i still need to get the rotator?
2. Do i need to get a L-bracket i am to shoot in landscape mode?
Vineet

hi vicen,
thanks once again, i would like to know the following also
1. Since i have manfrotto ball head 498cr4 do i still need to get the rotator?
2. Do i need to get a L-bracket i am to shoot in landscape mode?

@Vincen: do you know LRS D800 on M1-L? What will be the distance from tripod mount socket to the side of the camera? Will he succeed with MFR 170 or does he need 2x MFR210MM? Of cause he has to use the set up to the left hand side of the camera body in landscape mode. Do you already have URS settings for 14-24 as well?

Your question about the L-bracket is a bit tricky. To be able to give you some basic advice, I simulated the L-bracket with D300s for you. The lens axis position for NPP will change on lower rail when you go from portrait mode to landscape mode. Normally we use a set up with vertical rail on the right hand side with camera grip on top - release button. When you use an L-bracket, camera connection changes to the opposite side, to the left in landscape mode. This needs a change of the normal set up. In place of using the vertical rail on the right hand side, you have to change it to the left. Also the lower rail has to be changed to left hand side. The bubble level on the lower rail has to be place to show to the right instead of showing to the left from viewpoint position. Now this is point one.

Point two: Normally M1-L comes with two different lengths of rails: MFR170 = 170mm long, and MFR210 = 210mm long. You can use both of them as upper or lower rail.
You need MFR210 as upper rail for 14-24mm lens. So in this case the MFR 170 has to be used as lower rail.

Point three: There are two different versions of the set up of the vertical rail and upper rotator using a Nadir Adapter or not. In case you like to do Nadir shots with Nadir Adapter, you might need a longer rail.

I've added both vertical rail set ups to the M1-L. In this case I used MFR210 for both situations. The MFR170 has an end mark of 165mm. Now have a look to the clamp center mark for lower rail. 165mm without Nadir Adapter will catch 2/3 of the lower rail to clamp to. With Nadir Adapter 165mm will end up near the middle of the clamp. This is a No Go!. So for your order there are two choices: order the normal set up with MFR170 - in case you want to use other lenses - and MFR210 and order an extra MFR210, or order MFR210 twice.

First pic is L-Bracket set up, second normal set up. Third pic shows the horizontal position of lower rail MFR210 with Nadir Adapter - in front - and without behind it. Check 165mm mark inside the clamps center mark. Then you see what I am talking about.

I had a look to your ball head. This is a mid range one. But anyway. There is a lot of weight and torque with M1-L, D800 and 14-24mm, specially in landscape mode. I use this lens with D3 and D700. It is best to keep as less parts as possible between rotator and tripod. Center column should be down. The ball head will raise the whole equipment. You will be surprised what might happen once you open up a ball head without special soft release of the ball: the whole equipment may bump down. Plus it is not easy to level the M1-L holding one hand to the ball head and one to the whole equipment trying to level and fix the position.
Another question is the quick release plate of manfrotto which is not arca style. I suppose you are using a manfrotto tripod. So just get an extra center column to use it with EZ-Leveller II and M1-L, and the ball head for your normal use. But how do you use the L-Bracket on your Manfrotto Ball Head? Have a look to your ball head if it is possible to change the manfrotto plate system to an arca style clamp on top with lever release:

The difference between portrait mode set up of M1-L with L-bracket and Landscape mode:

Lost the wrong pics name of "NN4", it is M1-l shown in the pics.

Think this helps a little bit.

Why do you need a rotator in place of a ball head? Using the ball head to turn around to get your shots around there is no fixed "click stop". So you are not sure to be in exact place to get an overlap of minimum 25% to be able to stitch the pics with enough overlap to get control points in space of the overlap in both pics that are needed to get a good stitch.

HI heinz,
Thank you for your time. I have never ever got such an explanation from anyone before. So here are i hope the final queries
So the following will be what i should be buying
1. M1-L W/ROTATOR-1Nos
2. M1-L Rail 210mm-2 Nos (lower and upper rail)
3. EZ-Leveller -1No
4. L-Bracket -1Nos
5. QRC- which model- i will send you the pic tomm

In case you will like to do Zenith and Nadir shots later on as well, I would add the Nadir Adapter which will raise the vertical rail and gives space to shoot +90º. In addition to this order you will save money as well.

Hi Heinz,
When i meant shooting landscape mode, instead of the rotator in the below rail, can i have the rotator in the vertical rail. As i want to shoot vertical panaromas with landscape mode?
Secondly do i need to order the EZ leveller?
Can i ship to frieght forwarding agent in US or can you ship it directly to UAE. If so what would be the cheapest option
Regards
vineet

The M1-L has rotator on the vertical rail as well: You can pitch = moving up and down with min 7,5° intervall.

It is easier to level with EZ-Leveller II. In case your tripod has legs that fall in and out easily like my old Manfrotto 055 ProB, than you can live without it. It is just a question of comfort. I always use it.